A theatre production Stages of Change was launched at the Oceania Arts Centre on Saturday, helping to raise awareness about the taboo issue of violence against women and children.

With the momentum from the moving performance, the cast from the University of the South Pacific Oceania Centre and Dulali will begin a tour over the next 10 days to Caucata, Burelevu, Veiseisei and Namatakula Villages.

Director for the work, Nina Nawalowalo says Stages of Change has gained international visibility as a powerful way to help communities’ talanoa about the causes of violence, and to find solutions.

Through the EU-funded project Valuing Voices, the production will go out to the villages in Viti Levu to raise awareness about violence and to showcase how the arts can be used to address issues in a way which creates a safe environment for open discussion.